The 5th Annual Indian Liberals Lecture, delivered by Professor Rahul Sagar, challenges a central premise taught in classrooms. For generations, standard historical narratives have treated Indian liberalism as a mere derivative of Western thought, born out of British India under the intellectual lights of Bengal and figures like Tagore. Professor Sagar argues that this view is fundamentally mistaken. The true roots of Indian liberalism stretch deeper, originating not in British colonial territories, but in “Indian India”, the native princely states.

The Three Blind Spots of Indian History

The prevailing view relies on three comfortable, yet deeply flawed, assumptions. British imperialists claimed liberalism was their greatest gift to the Asiatic mind. Subaltern historians argued that the indigenous bourgeoisie was a pliant collaborator with colonialism. Meanwhile, early right-wing narratives claimed that urban liberal elites were merely Indian in blood and colour, but entirely Western or anti-traditional in orientation. According to Sagar, all three schools of thought share the same blind spot because they look exclusively at British India and ignore the intellectual ferment happening elsewhere.

The revisionist history begins in 1867. Following a high-stakes debate in the British House of Lords over whether to return the princely state of Mysore to local rule, British administrators published a scathing report. It declared native rule chaotic, arbitrary, and devoid of property rights, concluding that only a fool would prefer a Maharaja to British efficiency.

Most assume the population accepted this critique in silence. Instead, the empire wrote back. An anonymous editorial in Bombay, later published as a pamphlet titled English and Native Rule in India, turned the tables. The author argued that while British administration possessed systemic rules, it was run by unsympathetic imperialists who ultimately cared only for themselves. Conversely, native rulers were deeply sympathetic to their people, sharing their famines, clans, and culture, but they lacked systematic governance. The logical conclusion was clear: if Indian principalities wanted to survive and thrive, their Maharajas had to learn to organise their states systematically.

Behind the Scenes with Mama Parmanand

Behind these anonymous essays was a remarkable, almost forgotten figure whom Professor Sagar has spent years unearthing from the archives: Narayan Mahadev Parmanand, known to his contemporaries as Mama Parmanand. Born into a humble family and graduating near the top of Elphinstone College on pure merit, Parmanand chose to live as a political recluse. He deliberately published his work anonymously so that his ideas would stand entirely on their own merit, free from the distraction of personal ego.

Years later, when British critics claimed native states were hopeless, Parmanand whispered his final manuscript, Letters to an Indian Raja, to his assistants while bedridden with Parkinson’s. Published in 1891, it stands as the first comprehensive treatise written in modern India outlining what a native liberal regime should look like.

Parmanand argued that India’s primary threat to individual freedom was not mass industrialisation or large political parties, as it was in the West. Instead, it was the intimate, crushing tyranny of community norms. Society dictated what people could eat, where they could live, who they could marry, and what professions they could pursue. Because an ordinary democracy would only empower groups to double down on caste and regional divides, Parmanand argued that enlightened Maharajas were uniquely positioned to force society to reform. He urged them to abolish hereditary appointments, pay administrators well to stamp out bribery, establish independent judiciaries, and hire individuals strictly based on merit rather than family ties.

Where Princely States Outperformed British India

This was not just abstract theory. Several princely states took these liberal blueprints to heart. Reformers like Sir Madhava Rao served as dewan across Travancore, Indore, and Baroda, implementing structured governance. Statistical data reveals that by 1900, life expectancy in Travancore was three times higher and per capita income five times higher than in British India. States like Bhavnagar, Gondal, Kolhapur, Baroda, and Mysore introduced sweeping reforms, investing heavily in infrastructure, modern banking, and universal education. Gwalior and Baroda even became the first to send students abroad to Japan and China to learn industrial skills.

For those wanting to trace these intellectual roots further, Professor Sagar points to M.G. Ranade’s classic text, The Rise of Maratha Power. In its seventh chapter, Ranade examines Shivaji’s civil institutions, showing how early Maratha governance operated on non-hereditary, merit-based civil offices and direct cash revenues before succumbing to the hereditary principle that ultimately undid the experiment.

If this rich tradition of constitutional liberalism existed, why did it vanish from public memory? Professor Sagar points to a major turning point in the early 1890s. With the introduction of legislative councils and separate electorates by 1909, Indian politics shifted toward representative elections. To win elections, politicians had to mobilise groups based on caste, religion, and language. Leaders representing groups had a vested interest in keeping those identity groups intact rather than championing the individual. Consequently, individualistic liberal texts faded from shelves, leaving only two copies of Parmanand’s seminal book surviving into the modern era.

Yet, history does not end with political texts. While liberal political literature receded, the sociological and empirical foundation for liberalism grew quietly on the ground. Mass literacy, urbanisation, and the expansion of the middle class have given ordinary individuals the economic and social independence to make their own choices, pursue careers, and marry across traditional divides.

Conclusion

The lecture closed with a reflection on the dilemma of liberals today. True liberal change rarely arrives through loud political slogans or top-down movements. Instead, it builds slowly through quiet, everyday transformations in our economy, our institutions, and our homes. By looking beyond simplified colonial narratives, we can finally recover a rich indigenous heritage that proves individual freedom has deep roots in the Indian soil.

There is a version of the world’s best striker, Erling Haaland, that shows up in almost every video. He scores, and instead of the wild, chest-thumping celebration you expect from a striker who just broke another record, his face does almost nothing. No scream, no sprint to the corner flag, no falling to the knees or screaming at the sky. Just a neutral expression, sometimes a small nod, occasionally that cross-legged pose that looks more like meditation than celebration. He also happily plays along with the endless memes about him being a robot instead of getting defensive. He does not sulk after a miss either. Whatever happens, his reaction stays in roughly the same emotional register.

People call him a robot for it, but I think they are reading it wrong. What looks like a lack of emotion is actually the opposite. It is the visible tip of an enormous amount of invisible work. The calm is not empty. It is earned, built months and years before that ball ever hits the net, in places nobody watches. Once you notice it, it becomes hard to forget, especially if you work in product marketing.

Most Product Marketing Managers (PMMs) are trained to do the opposite. They treat the launch or executive review as the moment that decides everything. They scramble to get messaging out before a competitor beats them to it. PMMs are taught to be reactive and call it agility. But Haaland offers a different model, built almost entirely on what happens before the moment, not during it. Here is what I think we can take from it.

1. The Decision Was Already Made Before it Started

In a conversation with former England striker Alan Shearer, Haaland once explained his approach to missed chances and bad games.

That is not emptiness. It is a discipline done earlier. He does not need to think mid-match because the thinking, positioning, and mental reset already happened before kickoff.

2. He Learned to Outread the Game Before He Could Outmuscle It

It is easy to forget that Haaland was not always this physically dominant figure. His former coach at Bryne, Gunnar Halle, has said that as a teenager, Haaland was small and still developing physically, well before his growth spurt changed everything. What made him effective even then was not size. It was his ability to read the game, understand positioning, and anticipate what a defender would do next. He could not yet simply overpower anyone, so that instinct made the difference. That instinct never left him. You can still see this today. For long stretches, he looks almost unbothered, more of a jog than a sprint. Then the ball arrives, one sharp burst, and the finish looks almost too easy. That ease is not laziness; it is what happens when you have already read where the play was going.

3. He Looks for Edges Where No One Else is Even Looking

A detail from his time at RB Salzburg has stuck with me since I first read it. A former teammate described how, on team trips, while everyone else played cards to pass the time, Haaland read scientific articles on sleep and nutrition, looking for small, unglamorous improvements nobody else chased.

That same instinct shows up in how he talks about training itself. In one of his workout videos, he walks through the exact back-and-forth that happens before a hard session.

“Do I wanna do this? No! Will I do it? Yes, because why not? It is good for my body and mind.”
-Haaland

He describes fatigue as partly psychological, something you can talk yourself into or out of. If you tell yourself you are tired, you will be tired. Tell yourself otherwise, and it is often true, too.

That is not hustle culture. It is something subtler and more interesting. It is the instinct to seek gains in places that do not appear to require external effort.

4. He Never Waited for Anyone to Push Him

Halle also said something else about Haaland that is easy to skim past. He never had to be pushed by coaches or people around him; he always knew what he was working toward.

That is not motivation in the way we usually talk about it at work, the kind that comes from OKRs or a manager’s nudge. It is something closer to internal clarity. He knew the goal clearly enough that external pressure was almost irrelevant.

The Quiet Work Behind the Calm

The Viking row after a goal, calm even in celebration. The shrug after a miss. The way he laughs off his own robot memes instead of defending himself. None of it is emptiness. It is the result of thinking, reading, unglamorous preparation, and clarity of the goal already being in place. There is nothing left to do because the real work has already been done.

I do not think the lesson here is to be more like a robot. I think it is a harder question to ask. How much of your best thinking is happening in the room, under pressure, when it is already too late to do it properly? And how much could instead happen earlier, quietly, in the version of your work that nobody applauds? The work is finished before the moment arrives. The launch is just where it shows up.

Sources referenced: The Athletic, Goal.com, and public interviews on Erling Haaland’s career and mentality.

Caged within the four walls of the house,
I almost forgot what the outside world looks like.
The simple pleasures of life,
such as sipping a cup of coffee overlooking the bustling city, seems distant. 
A quick road trip to the mountains appears to be far-fetched. 
Spending weekends at home, the joy of seeking a weekend getaway looks slim. 
Watching Race Across the World on a Saturday noon, the realisation dawns on me. 
There is so much to explore. 
Life is too short to stick to the mundane 9 to 5 routine. 
How the pandemic almost made me forget my dream,
of travelling the world, of collecting memories, not possessions. 
From Munich, Istanbul, and Azerbaijan to Samarkand,  Koh Rong, and Hanoi,
there are such amazing places to see. 
I would rather get lost in the wilderness,
than lose myself in getting by life.

Living in cities since childhood, we become conditioned to lead a certain lifestyle, have a few dreams and ultimately spend our lives running after them. In the majority of cases, dreams are tied to gaining wealth and popularity. The idea of an aim in life then falls short of its purpose. The purpose of life is not to hoard money and wait for an ideal time to relish the fruit of labor. Life is happening now as you are in the middle of a meeting, as you are out partying or as you are cribbing about what is missing in your life.

Time and again we feel a void. Despite having all the luxuries- from groceries being delivered to your doorstep to your salon lady visiting your house, even outside essential chores have become negligible. But what are we doing with all that time we save? Get hooked on to some series!

When was the last time that you took aside to think? We have been to the best of educational institutions and yet there seems to be no visible change in how we lead our lives. Education makes one liberal and makes one think. However, to chase empty material desires, we fail to have a purpose. Life is not all about luxury. It is much more.

There are millions of people without access to education and basic amenities, yet they wish to excel in life but probably don’t have the means to grow. And we, in spite of being in better circumstances do not feel compelled to pay heed to the ones who lack something. What is the point of education when it could not make you liberal?

Educated people keep circling the loop of religious dogmas in 21^st century when certainly there are more pressing issues in the world. Education is a privilege and a boon. Unless we rise above our selfish interest and material desires, nothing good is going to come out of it.

Take time and think about what impact you are creating on society. Don’t limit yourself to filing taxes and being a good Samaritan within the four walls of the house.

Pause and look around. Introspect and see what your calling is. Clearly, a passionate, feeling and thinking being would want more, not only for herself but for others too. You have spent decades on self-growth. But an individual grows as the society progresses. So, your goal should be to transcend material gains.

Sit and listen to what is that your heart wants.

Originally Published On Tranquilnook 

In the current age of technological disruption, the Human Resource process has undergone a major shift. Even though we celebrate technological adoption, sometimes we tend to overlook the people behind this crucial transition and integration.

There are women who have often been in the background re-engineering their HR processes to meet the fast evolving corporate landscape.

These are women who have proved their mettle by fighting all odds and come out victorious.

Want to know how these super women made it so far? 

Read the full story here:

https://blog.mettl.com/talent-hub/how-women-leaders-transformed-hr-processes-using-technology

Have you lately realized how dull a 9 to 5 job is, how you push yourself to work every day and long to get back home as soon as possible? Have you started feeling disconnected from work and often feel the need to test different waters? Well, in that case, you may long to explore one of your interests. So, here I am with some handy tips to help you in taking up a side business while managing it with your current job.

1. Commitment is doing the thing you said you were going to do, long after the mood you said it in had left you.

I am not talking about commitment to work here as it comes after commitment to yourself. Now that you have decided to start a venture irrespective of the current job, you need to stay true to your aim. There will come moments when you would think of dropping the idea altogether and keep pursuing your job. But do not forget it is something which could make you actually happy. Your present job might be enough for sustenance, but that would not necessarily make you happy.

The new business is not going to be an easy task, so you need to promise yourself that you won’t abandon it midway but give in your hundred percent. Motivation may get you started, but commitment is what keeps you going. A good way to start finding time for the new work is to let go of unyielding activities such as hours spent on playing video games, social media or watching TV.

 2. Forget all the reasons why it won’t work and believe the one thing why it will.

Do not get demotivated even before starting the business. List down the reasons why you want it in the first place. People may give you all sorts of advice but at the end do what your inner voice tells you. Have the courage to stand for what you believe in.

You may have a variety of reasons including learning new skills, working on your interest, multiple income sources, becoming financially stable or building a strong foundation to back your loved ones in the hour of need. Be rational enough to take on something because you would be required to invest your time and resources in it.

3. Life is never boring, but some people chose to be bored.

Wayne Dyer very bluntly puts reality in front of us. However bitter it may sound, but it the truth. It is completely up to us how to create a friendly atmosphere at workplace or home.

Situations may not have gone your way when you started working, but now that you are experienced enough, you can finally give a thought of doing what you like. For this, you need to focus on your interest areas along with the required skills. You may also take out time to learn new skills which your work requires. Learning never stops until you die and the more you learn, the more you grow. If you are good at designing despite being involved in a corporate job, give it a try. Sometimes taking risk fuels your passion.

4. A single idea from the human mind can build cities. An idea can transform the world and rewrite all the rules.

These lines from the popular Hollywood flick ‘Inception’ lays emphasis on the power that a new idea holds. It should be able to communicate effectively with your target audience, employer or client. You are starting something, so obviously you need to be good at it.

Along your way, you would me meeting businessmen with similar idea or aims. But how you make your endeavour stand out is up to you. An in-depth study of your venture is crucial in deciding how it will turn out in the near future. Since half knowledge is always dangerous, research as much as possible meets people who can help you determine the course of actions and set on the journey.

5. Ask yourself if what you’re doing today is getting you closer where you want to be tomorrow.

Analyze if your words are complimenting your actions. If not, then you really need to set realistic goals. Since you have decided on a particular course of action, allot specific time duration to it and try sticking to the deadline. Without allocating a finite period, you will not only end up exhausting yourself but also be incapable of managing two jobs. Begin by setting daily, weekly or monthly goals. Once you start ticking your to-do list, you will be confident enough to face bigger challenges. This personal motivation is essential to your growth.

6. Most successful freelancers are those surrounded by strong supportive networks.

You can go for freelancing as an option too. In that case, there is absolutely no need to stress about doing two jobs. Time management is important along with maintaining quality. Work location becomes no more a headache since you don’t really have to go anywhere but work comfortably sitting on your couch from home. However, this is not an easy task considering you are used to an all day job. You will need to practice self-discipline to fulfill your commitments.

Freelancing as a designer, web developer, content writer or others help in brushing your skills. It also felicitates a chain reaction where you end up meeting new people. This is how your network grows. You can easily keep in touch with everything that is trending.

7. Feedback is a free education to excellence.

According to Ann Marie Houghtailing, feedback helps you aim for excellence. Even if it is bitter, it can always help you improve your work. An unbiased feedback shows you the mirror. It determines if your work is providing any value to the client.

Instead of getting disheartened by criticism, look for people who are not afraid of giving an honest opinion. It is only after listening to endless reproaches that you outshine everyone by enhancing your work.

P.S.: Published on February 28, 2017 in the Engineer Babu blog
https://www.engineerbabu.com/blog/start-side-business-without-leaving-current-job/

The evolution of social media platforms has brought a revolutionary wave in the 21st century. From connecting with thought leaders around the globe to following favourite actors and football players, social media has unified the world. Even though these platforms have given a boost to businesses, helped in creating awareness and brought the masses together against social injustices, their overuse can have adverse effects on the overall wellbeing of an individual.

Many teenagers report suffering from what is known as Social Media Anxiety Disorder, a kind of anxiety caused due to staying away from social media for a short or long duration. We keep checking our newsfeed every once in a while, even though there are no messages. This not only keeps us constantly anxious but also disrupts our attention span. The first thing we do right after we wake up and the last thing we do before sleeping is, check our smartphones. According to experts, almost 20% of people with social media accounts cannot go more than three hours without checking them. Isn’t the figure astonishing enough to point out that social media anxiety is a result of technological advancement not being used in the right spirit?

All the selfies and boomerangs being taken for social media snatch away the precious moments lost forever. We get so engrossed in brooding how fancy our friends’ lives are that we often forget to count our blessings. That may just be partially true. We are responsible for our own happiness, not anyone else. We have one life and we ought to make the best of it. It is high time we prioritize our goals and use social media platforms judiciously for staying informed rather than making our lives revolve around them.

Take a pause from the daily hustle.

Notice the wildlings sprouting in the crevices around you.

Admire that vivacious squirrel running up and down the tree on a playful whim!

Listen to the birds taking a flight to their nests.

Witness the thunder reverberating in the wide expanse.

Look back and see how far you have come.

Don’t forget your journey and progress.

Remember, you are a different person than you were yesterday. 

Travelling not just widens a person’s horizons but also enlightens the individual as he gets exposed to the panorama of natural beauty. The more he distances himself from the urban milieu, the more attuned he gets with his soul. The landscape beguiles him to seek repose, peace and tranquility.

Tranquility: It resonates with my blog, right! I started this venture to give coherency to my thoughts and feelings which often went unexpressed due to lack of time and work commitments. Wondering why did I deviate from the topic? This is so because peace is somehow intertwined with everyone’s routine. After a rough day at work, you look for the missing piece that ultimately shirks off the exhaustion.

If you have not yet discovered your tranquil nook, you can begin your quest now. Take for example travelling. Travelling with a loved one not only brings you closer but also helps you connect with your inner self better. You may start out as a tourist and gradually slip into the role of a traveller.

Even a tourist spot can become a traveller’s haven if you start exploring with someone of the same wavelength. Someone who may be as peculiar as you but one who shares the same inkling, the wanderlust to know what is beyond; beyond the human periphery.

You may have heard- “Friends who travel together, stay together.” Well, it’s not just another social media post. It is literal in every sense. While travelling, you are exposed to the wilderness. It ultimately brings your true nature to the fore, which you may otherwise try to hide under a façade of forced pleasantries.

When you have company, ‘we’ should always come before ‘I’. While encountering a difficult situation, take pause and reflect; if you have made it this far, you will sail through with a little more effort. Losing hope now would do no good, rather make it worse.

The problem with us is that we easily get perturbed by even the slightest change. This comfort zone skyrockets our egos to an extent that we leave little to no scope for understanding. Being resistant to change adversely affects our personal growth, for we are not ready to accept the new. And without innovation, we will remain stuck to age-old practices, still unable to come to terms with reality.

Travelling with a companion helps you understand their temperament while trying to subjugate yours. You get to see their other side, with their guards down. This side may not necessarily be pleasant. But don’t you think with your own guard down, you will be vulnerable to similar temperament?

Everyone loves the positive side of a person and gets appalled by the negative traits. But aren’t you susceptible to same characteristics? The day you start accepting both the sides of a person, is the day you will feel affectionate towards them. Not to mention, they have accepted your flaws too.

Spending time with someone you connect on a spiritual level, is a cherishing experience. While the highs make you appreciate each other’s abilities, the lows make you realize that you are accepted even at your worst. The very act of confiding sets foundation of a strong friendship wherein you can speak your heart, teach, learn and grow together.

So whenever possible, plan a short trip to a nearby hill station, beach or historical monument. It will not only calm your nerves but also give a different outlook towards life, wherein your problems will appear meagre. The journey of patience will ultimately yield the sweet fruit of arriving at the favourable destination.

Quite often, I come across women sharing nightmares of travelling in the general coach of metros. While the cases may have genuinely been a cause of distress among many, my side of the story is different.

I have been commuting via metro since 8 months. Call it God ‘s grace, but my experience of travelling has been memorable so far. There has not been a single instance where I did not get a seat, that to at overcrowded stations like Kashmiri Gate and Rajiv Chowk.

If I recount all those instances, it is the opposite gender who has turned out to be gentlemen. No matter how exhausted they may be, they never fail to offer seat to me or follow female passengers. However, same cannot be held true for women. Women are not considerate towards their own gender.

For that reason, I always have a soft corner for men because of their humbleness and never ask them to empty a certain seat. Probably, I’m learning to be more considerate too.

I have heard stories where women feel absolutely suffocated or groped in a stuffed coach. But luckily, I never faced such situations and have had pleasant experiences so far as follow passengers take care of not being all over the place.

I would anyday prefer travelling in a general coach rather than women’s.

In voicing my opinion, I am not biased against my own gender. But, perhaps women should follow men ‘s footsteps, try to be more generous and offer seat to the one in need. Who knows you may be on the other side in future.

Life is neither a fairy tale nor a bed of roses. There shall be times when you would feel utterly dejected. This dejection is not with anyone in particular, but with oneself. Majority of us hit rock bottom after a long week. An eerie feeling of being apathetic creeps in.

You may be getting a handsome amount sitting in the comfort of your offices, shut off from the heat, pollution and traffic. But what about the muddle in your head? Did you ever wonder about the hundred things crossing your mind? Have you ever taken a minute to see what you really want? Do you think all that stress is worth your peace of mind?

It is only natural to reach saturation point one day or another. When such a situation arises, one should seek what the heart really wants, whatever restores the tranquility. It could be reading, sketching, watching your favourite TV series or perhaps a long awaited phone call with an old pal.

You feel this dread only when you let the surroundings affect your psyche. It is not your work that defines you. You are above and beyond your computer screen and clicks that alarm you like blaring honks in that 9-5 shift.

There is a reason man is the highest creation, because he has been endowed with the gift to think and analyze. This is what separates him from the lower species. If he does not nurture his blessing, what difference would remain between him and the rest?

Our lives have become a vicious circle. From rushing to the office and still getting late everyday, working half heartedly, commuting to the farthest corner of the city to returning home exhausted from work, we are left with no time for ourselves. The one who should have been at the top in the priority list, does not even make the cut.

It is of the serious essence that we make time for ourselves. Get up 10 minutes before the alarm goes off to avoid that morning rush. Instead of reaching gadgets to check out that drab newsfeed, open your notepad and quickly jot down what you will be doing the entire day.

The aim should be to become a more informed individual everyday. Life is changing every second and so should you. To keep pace with the flow, you need to mold yourself in a way that you do not hamper your personal growth. It is only when you start doing things that brighten you, that will pacify your agitated mind.

Once you have crossed your check list at the end of the day, you will start living. It may be demanding during the first week since you will rebel against the changes. But do not succumb to the inaction, because it is only under extreme pressure that rock transforms into pure gold. Once you have overcome the initial effort, you will eventually widen your goals and look forward to learning something new everyday.

There is no greater happiness and contentment than having a productive day.

I had a chance of visiting Chandigarh on the pretext of an exam. Since I did not have much time to explore, I grabbed whatever I could.
Chandigarh is a well planned city. Its lush greenery by the roadside has a cooling effect on the overall climate. Broad roads and great traffic management leaves no space for jams. The area offers a wide walking zone for passersby.
It has been a tourist attraction specially for northerners who backpack and head straight to its call.
Here is a glimpse of the city beautiful. Even if you’re just passing by the city, take a day and allow its beauty to transcend your travel experience.

1-STUC (STUDENT CENTRE)
Apart from its canteen, Punjab University endorses a cool cafeteria. It not only caters to the needs of students but people from all over Chandigarh also flock to STUC for a quick bite. Be it lassi, milk shakes, natural fruit juice, North Indian, South Indian or Chinese, STUC offers a wide range of cuisine at a pocket friendly price.
What makes the cafeteria different from the contemporaries is its natural ambiance. You can grab your food and sit on the benches under the huge mango trees. The trees also offer a respite from the summer heat.

2- ELANTE MALL
Elante has not only become the biggest shopping mall of Chandigarh but Punjab too. It’s the perfect destination for all the brand conscious fashionistas. It accommodates a number of stores like Westside, Zara, Lifestyle, The Body Shop and more. The food court includes Bikanerwala, Baskin Robbins, Yo China,,etc.
The vast gaming zone is a major attraction for kids. Various competitions are organized for children on weekends. The mall is specially over crowded on weekends.

3-ROCK GARDEN
Thanks to Lt. Mr. Nekchand who left such a valuable legacy to Chandigarh. The garden is one of a kind with art pieces made out of junk like sockets, porcelain, bangles and stones. It is covered with vast vegetation. The garden also has an aquarium, small food outlets, souvenir shop and swings. Rock Garden is an absolute eye candy for art enthusiasts.

4- SUKHNA LAKE
Located hardly 2km from Rock Garden is Sukhna Lake which happens to be a picnic spot too. The wide expanse of mountains in the background casts a spell on the beholder. Boating is what families look forward to. It is an ideal location for morning and evening walks.

The lake becomes liveliest in the evening when the temperature lowers down. A walk around the lake with a loved one under the star studded sky becomes memorable. Sitting on the stairs, you can see the lights glimmering from tiny houses nested on the hills. It is an absolute eye candy witnessing those lights getting reflected in the swift water of the lake with fireflies brightening up the dark night.

Indeed Chandigarh stands true to its name-The City Beautiful.